Take precautions to help keep your living area free of ticks, such as keeping your grass mowed and removing high grasses and brush from near your home.

Check yourself thoroughly for ticks, particularly if you have been in a high risk area such as a wooded location or an area with high grasses.

Do not forget to check your children as well.

Thoroughly inspect any clothing, backpacks, or other gear that have you have used for hiking or camping. Look for crawling ticks on these items before you bring them inside your home.

Do not assume that wooded or grassy areas are the only places where ticks can hide. It is possible for wildlife and even birds to bring ticks into your own backyard.

So be vigilant in checking your pets as well as your family for ticks, particularly during the warmer months of the year.

Retired racing greyhounds may suffer from chronic, undetected infections and should be checked for Ehrlichiosis and other tick-borne diseases when adopted.

EHRLICHIOSIS
The symptoms and severity of illness seen with Ehrlichiosis depends on the species involved and the immune system of the dog. Generally, Erlichia appears to produce the most severe illness, and infections tend to progress through various stages.

Improvement in symptoms is usually very quick, but several weeks of treatment is usually needed to ensure a full recovery.

In severe cases where blood cell counts are very low, blood transfusions may be needed.

*****Reinfection is possible as immunity to Ehrlichia bacteria is not long lasting*****

BABESIA INFECTIONS IN PETS

Babesia occurs in dogs and other species, and is transmitted mainly by ticks. Babesia are protozoal parasites that attack blood cells, though the severity of illness varies depending on the species of Babesia involved, as well as the immune system of the infected dog.

Babesia is most common in warmer weather when ticks are most numerous.

Infections are also possible through blood transfusions, and in the case of one Babesia species (Babesia gibsoni), dog-to-dog transmission via bite wounds is thought to be a mode of transmission. Mothers can also pass Babesia to their pups before birth.

RISK FACTORS:
Babesia infections occur worldwide in areas where the ticks that carry the disease are common. While any dog can be infected, young dogs tend to suffer more serious illness. Greyhounds, pit bull terriers, and American Staffordshire terriers seem to be most susceptible to infection (Greyhounds with a strain of Babesia canis, and terriers with Babesia gibsoni).